CSz Sacramento Blog - All Things Improv...And More!

Yesterday I began the arduous process of trying to find a new doctor who accepts my new insurance. As most of us know too well, trying to navigate the health care system can be an aggravating process often culminating in the Catch-22 of the insurance companies instructing “ask the medical provider” and the doctor’s office instructing “ask the insurance provider.”

The experience made me think of a sketch I wrote for The Set well over a year ago called a Mouse of Prevention (a riff on the saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure). The premise was that under President Trump Disney has taken over health care (keep in mind I wrote this sketch just after he began to run for office. Sorry for being so prescient. BTW, I also wrote a Game of Scones sketch with the Hodor character holding open the door way before that reveal. Weird…)

Disney AlADdin Pharmaceutical Rep

So why am I talking about this stuff in a blog about improv? Well, because that sketch was a good example of one of my favorite improv concepts: if this is true, what else might be true? It’s a great way to build new, absurd situations, settings, and worlds. If Disney did run health care, what else might be true? In my sketch Lumiere sings Be Out Patient to people in the waiting room, pharmaceutical reps sing You Ain’t Never Had A Drug Like Me, and operating rooms play It’s A Small World repetitively in lieu of anesthesia. Note that this concept of what else might be true is often combined with the improv concept of heightening, i.e., moving an idea towards increasing levels of extremeness and absurdity. Heightening is especially important in pattern based long form improv in which performers play with “the game” of the scene (meaning a key pattern or theme, not a performance game like you find in short form improv).

You can learn more about core improv concepts in our Level 1 Beginner Improv class. We’ve got new sessions starting in January. Our class is great for anyone who wants to learn an amazing life skill, start the journey towards performing improv, make great new friends, or just have a comfortable place to laugh each week. Our class are very popular after New Year’s, so you can reserve your place with a $50 deposit.